I think there should be a government clinic in each town that is absolutely free to anyone that walks in and can treat anything. All doctors that work an hour there, get an hour of their private income tax free. All private clinics send all ALL people who will not pay to the government clinic, no more clogging up the ER, no more sticking paying customers with their unpaid bills. No more turning hospitals into wal mart. Blammo free chit for freeloaders (and even legitamate hard cases), and it is 100% government controlled (therefore superior), while not ruining the private system for everyone else.
Good idea. In the past I’ve suggested a system run completely on donations similar to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis...letting the super-wealthy and average joe freely donate. Surely wealthy liberals would give to such a cause??
But your idea may be better.
“I think there should be a government clinic in each town that is absolutely free to anyone that walks in and can treat anything.”
There were and are HRSA clinics:
“HRSA Health Centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance – you pay what you can afford based on your income. Health centers provide services that include checkups when you are well, treatment when you are sick, complete care when you are pregnant, and immunizations and checkups for your children. Some health centers also provide mental health, substance abuse, oral health, and/or vision services. Contact the health center organization directly to confirm the availability of specific services and to make an appointment.”
https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
They are not hospitals though.
There are only a few hospitals that are obligated to provide care in exchange for the federal government having paid some of their construction costs.
As for treating “anything”, many conditions [HIV, auto-immune arthritis, etc.] may require expensive drugs, which may not be available through a drug company patient assistance program.